A change of pace for this article - a look at mechanical keyboards and a company that is trying to make it easier for popular Asian-manufactured models to be bought in Europe and North America. This article features a short interview with Massdrop CEO Steve El-Hage, who was kind enough to take time out a couple of months ago to answer some of my questions. Let's get right to the interview:

How popular are mechanical keyboard group buy requests overall?

"The Mechanical Keyboard community is the second largest community on Massdrop, behind Audiophiles, making it one of the most active and engaged communities on our platform."

How receptive are keyboard manufacturers to Massdrop?

"The larger our community grows, the more receptive keyboard manufacturers become. We're currently at a point where the majority of keyboard manufacturers have listed or are interested in listing their products on Massdrop."

What advantages do you feel you offer over eBay sellers and other retailers?

"On Massdrop, everything that happens is totally community driven. The community suggests products for us to list, they vote on the best ones, they talk about what makes things good or bad, they pool together their money to buy in bulk, and they continue the conversation even after they receive their products via our discussion system. Every step of the way is focused on the community - something that makes the experience very unique and is very hard to find anywhere else."

A common issue I've seen from people is the long wait for delivery, is this anything that can be improved? Or is it an inherent drawback given the nature of how group buys work?

"We're still a young company with a lot of room to grow. Shipping is something we’re continuously working to improve and it will be a focus of ours in the coming months as we invest more in operations and logistics."

Do you think at some point in the future manufacturers will be more trusting and send out products before full payment has been received in order to expedite delivery?

"It's possible, however it would likely result in higher prices for our users. The reason for this is that it creates much more work for the vendors as they would have to ship the units out on a rolling basis. Alternatively, we would have to estimate the total number of units, creating potential for unsold inventory. It's a possibility, but I think there will be other ways to reduce shipping times."Given that you can't personally handle refunds for faulty devices that customers have bought through you, do they still have access to manufacturer warranty? Is this something that can be changed with more trust from the manufacturers that you buy from?

"Yes, when we deal with manufacturers directly, all manufacturer warranties on those products are typically upheld. Overall, we do everything possible to make sure our users are happy with the experience."Massdrop is gaining popularity quickly, thanks to sites like Reddit, Lifehacker and GeekHack - Are you happy with the performance of the company? How has the last year been for Massdrop?

"This last year has been the biggest year in Massdrop history by far with records being set across the board. We're ecstatic with the growth of the communities on Massdrop and are extremely excited for the year ahead."

Mechanical keyboards are picking up popularity within enthusiast PC user groups. Not just in gaming circles, either - mechanical keyboards can be a blessing to those that type for any length of time in their work or at home.

My thanks to Steve El-Hage for taking the time to answer questions from a new freelance writer.

Have you had experience with Massdrop? Let us know in the comments below!